Incentives Now for Solar Energy in El Paso

La Greenga is taking charge on this issue so please follow her blog. Here's the issue:

The El Paso Electric Company wants to raise your rates. If their proposal is approved by the Public Utility Regulation Board of the City of El Paso and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, then you will be paying almost $6 more per month for electricity. (See the El Paso Times story.)

Marie Gilot (La Greenga) and others had the great idea that the rate hike should be tied to an incentive for renewable, solar energy. There should be an upfront rebate on the installation of PV (Photovoltaic) systems and any other renewable energy system such as wind turbines in the amount of $2.50 per watt which works out to a $7,500 rebate for a 3kW System which is the average size of such a system in El Paso. El Paso Electric pays its New Mexico solar homeowners a 12-cent per kW/h rebate for each kilowatt/hour of solar electricity they generate. But El Paso Electric has no Renewable Energy Credit payment program for El Pasoans.

This seems to be a no-brainer and the way renewable energy systems are encouraged in other cities across the country. Why not here?

So, what can you do?

The office of Joe Moody has put together a Rate Case Letter and is asking members of the public to sign it. To do so, just email Amy at Joe Moody's office and say you want to sign the Rate Case Letter. Amy's email is amy.morales@house.state.tx.us.

The text of the letter is on Marie's blog.

Tell Amy that you want to be a signator before May 10 when the Public Utility Regulation Board will take-up the rate hike proposal again. They will meet at 7 a.m. in the El Paso City Council Chambers. (Read Marie's blog entry about what happened at the last meeting and the plans to bring the rate hike back up on the 10th.) You may also want to be present or speak about this important matter - this no-brainer.

Read Marie's Solar Page. There is so much information there.